Innovative Technologies in Healthcare, Beware of the Pitfalls

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI)4 in Healthcare: some Advantages Automating tasks and analysing big patient data sets deliver faster and better healthcare at a lower cost.Emerging digital technologies help the system move from episodic to collaborative and longitudinal care.5 Information and communication technologies (ICT) allow for the development of decision supportsystems that strengthen the diagnostic capacities of individual practitioners.6 AI and health apps enable improved and faster diagnostics.Expert systems7 may assist in patient treatments by improving treatment plans and monitoring treatment successes.Care robots may perform automated care tasks, thereby facilitating the work of care assistants.With robotic assisted surgery surgeons may do certain procedures in a minimal invasive way, otherwise done by open surgery.It is important to keep in mind that robots cannot (and should not) replace the human factor.Adequate training of health professionals working with medical (and care) robots is key for its success.Another advantage of AI in healthcare, is that a sensor8 can detect events or changes in its environment and send the information to other electronics such as a computer processor.This way, a network of intelligent sensors is created that is able to collect, process, transfer and analyse valuable information in different environments.A pertinent example is connecting in-home monitoring devices to hospital-based systems.